Coaches

When Mike Singletary and Leslie Frazier were rookie defenders for the Chicago Bears in 1981 neither could have thought their paths would eventually lead to working together on the coaching staff of the Minnesota Vikings 30 years later. But, fate and football are funny that way. The young Bears became roommates and friends in the early 1980s and are reunited now coaching an old Central Division rival. Singletary returns in 2012 to share Vikings LB coaching duties with veteran LBs coach Fred Pagac.

In Singletary’s 2nd season with the Vikings in 2012 he shared LB coaching duties with veteran Vikings staff member Fred Pagac. The Vikings defense clamped down on opponents in the crucial final month of the season when the team went 4-0 to finish 10-6 and earn an NFC Wild Card playoff berth. The unit was led by 2nd-time Pro Bowler Chad Greenway, who notched a career-high 191 tackles to lead the team for the 5th straight season and the LBs combined for 6.0 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and an INT. The Vikings LBs started the same core of Greenway, MLB Jasper Brinkley and OLB Erin Henderson throughout the season with only Henderson missing 2 games during the season. Brinkley rebounded from missing 2011 on injured reserve to start 15 games, rank 2nd on the team with 117 tackles and tied for 2nd on the club with 3 FFs.

During his 1st season with the Vikings in 2011, Singletary oversaw a crew that was led by Greenway as the 6th-year pro had a career season. Greenway earned his 1st Pro Bowl berth and set a then-career-high with 174 tackles. Greenway notched his career-best with 22 tackles in a game vs. Oakland, the 2nd-most single-game tackles in Vikings history.

Singletary prepared Erin Henderson to start at OLB alongside his older brother, E.J., in 2011 as the younger Henderson entered his 1st season as a regular starter.

Singletary understands the role Frazier is in better than most as both men started their head coaching careers on a difficult interim basis. Singletary replaced former boss Mike Nolan after 7 games during the 2008 season and led the 49ers to a 5-2 finish in the final 7 games of the season after going 0-2 to start his tenure. He was named 49ers Head Coach moving forward and led the club to an 8-8 mark in 2009, the best record since 2002. Singletary led the team for the opening 15 games of 2010 before ownership relieved him of his duties.

The 2010 49ers showcased a tough defense, ranking #13 in total defense, #6 against the run and were #7 in the NFL at forcing opposing offenses to go 3-and-out. The club dropped 4 games in the opening half of the season by a combined 11 points and rallied to a 5-5 mark in Singletary’s final 10 games on the job, including a win over Denver in the NFL’s International Series game played in London.

Singletary got his first taste of NFL coaching working with the inside LBs for Baltimore in 2003-04 before going with Nolan to serve as Assistant Head Coach/LBs coach for the 49ers in 2005. From 2006-08, Singletary served as Assistant Head Coach/Defense.

During his tenure in Baltimore, Singletary worked with future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis as he earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2003. The duo shared that unique bond as Singletary had been Defensive Player of the Year in 1985 and 1988.

Singletary’s focus on defense helped the Ravens rank #3 and #6 in total defense during his two seaosns respectively. When he went to San Francisco with head coach Mike Nolan, the squad’s defensive talent was depleted and ranked #32 in the NFL in total defense for the 2005 season. In the next 5 seasons the 49ers would climb to back-to-back #6 finishes against the run in 2009 and ’10, ranking #15 and #13 in total defense respectively.

Singletary helped 49ers rookie LB Patrick Willis earn AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2007 and earn Pro Bowl honors in his opening 3 seasons, 2007-09.

Singletary’s legend as a player is well chronicled over his 12-year career with the Bears. His 10 consecutive Pro Bowls stands as a franchise record and he earned 1st-Team All-Pro honors 8 times. He ranked #1 or #2 on the team in tackles in each of his final 11 seasons with the team and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998, 3 years after he earned College Football Hall of Fame honors. During his career with Chicago, Singletary was part of 6 NFC Central Division title teams and made the playoffs 7 times, including playing in 3 NFC Championship games. From 1984-88 the Bears won 5 straight Division crowns, won Super Bowl XX, played in 3 NFC title games and amassed a 62-17 regular season record, winning an average of 12 games per season.

A man of deep faith, Singletary finds motivation and meaning from the scriptures he studies daily. Sports and religion have been the foundation of Singletary’s life and have led him through the toughest of times. Singletary and wife, Kim, have seven children.